Top 32 Feature Match: Donel Jao versus Ali Yassine

May 12th, 2013

Welcome to the Top 32! From this point on, only the Match winners will remain in the tournament. We’ve got Donel Jao, who managed to take his Evilswarms to the final cut. He’s up against one of his most favorable matchups, with Ali Yassine’s Mermails. Yassine has made the top cut of multiple YCS events, but Evilswarm Ophion might be a thorn in his side in this Match.

Duel 1

Yassine started off with Deep Sea Diva. He Special Summoned Atlantean Heavy Infantry from his Deck, then played another Deep Sea Diva. That got Atlantean Marksman from his Deck. He tuned Diva to Marksman for T.G. Hyper Librarian, then tuned the other Diva to Heavy Infantry for Armory Arm. Librarian let him draw an extra card. He discarded Atlantean Dragoons for Mermail Abyssteus, Special Summoning Abyssteus in defense position. With his two search effects, he got Marksman and Mermail Abyssgunde. He Set one card to his back row.

Jao had Reinforcement of the Army, Cardcar D, Dark Armed Dragon, Evilswarm Castor, Mystical Space Typhoon, and Forbidden Lance. Reinforcement gave him another Castor, and he Summoned both of them so he could play Evilswarm Ophion! He detached a material to search out Infestation Pandemic. Ophion destroyed Armory Arm, then Jao Set Lance and Infestation Pandemic. Yassine tried to use Abyss-sphere, but Jao Chained Mystical Space Typhoon from his hand to destroy it.

Yassine Normal Summoned Mermail Abysspike, discarding Dragoons for its effect. He added Mermail Abysslinde and Heavy Infantry to his hand.

Jao drew Monster Reborn, and Ophion destroyed Abysspike in battle.

Yassine used Mystical Space Typhoon on Forbidden Lance. Jao Chained it to weaken T.G. Hyper Librarian. Yassine had another Mystical Space Typhoon, and Jao Chained his Infestation Pandemic before it was destroyed. Yassine played Abysslinde and crashed it into Ophion, getting Abysspike from his Deck. He discarded Heavy Infantry for its effect, searching out Abysslinde and destroying Ophion. Librarian and Abysspike attacked directly.

Jao drew Castor, and dropped his Dark Armed Dragon! He destroyed all three of Yassine’s monsters, then played Castor and Monster Reborn to end this first Duel!

Donel Jao is one win away from the Top 16 with Evilswarms! Ophion makes this matchup especially tough for Mermails, and Ali Yassine will need to win two in a row from here.

Duel 2

Yassine a Set card in each zone.

Jao opened with Mystical Space Typhoon, Evilswarm Mandragora, Bottomless Trap Hole, Nobleman of Crossout, Torrential Tribute, and Evilswarm Castor. He Special Summoned Mandragora, then Normal Summoned Castor. He stacked them for Evilswarm Ophion, then banished Abysslinde with Nobleman of Crossout! Ophion attacked directly for 2550 damage, and Jao Set Bottomless Trap Hole.

Yassine Set a monster.

Jao drew his second Bottomless Trap Hole. Ophion attacked, but Yassine revealed Penguin Soldier! Ophion was sent back to the Extra Deck, and Jao Set Torrential Tribute.

Yassine Normal Summoned Deep Sea Diva, bringing Atlantean Marksman to the field. Jao destroyed them both with Torrential Tribute, and Yassine had no other plays.

Jao drew Reinforcement of the Army. He passed.

Yassine flipped Dust Tornado to destroy Bottomless Trap Hole, then used Salvage to grab Diva and Marksman back. He played Diva, Special Summoned Atlantean Heavy Infantry, and Normal Summoned Marksman. Marksman struck directly to Special Summon Atlantean Dragoons from the Deck. Diva and Dragoons attacked as well. In Main Phase 2, Yassine Synchro Summoned Armory Arm, then stacked it with Dragoons for Abyss Dweller. He detached Dragoons for Abyss Dweller’s effect, and searched out Mermail Abyssmegalo. He discarded 2 more Dragoons for Abyssmegalo, letting him addDiva and Marksman to his hand. He did not search for Abyssmegalo’s effect (Whether he forgot or could not is unknown). He Set one card to his back row.

Jao drew Evilswarm Heliotrope. He used Reinforcement of the Army to get Castor, then Summoned it and Heliotrope together. His Evilswarms destroyed Abyss Dweller and Marksman, then he Xyz Summoned Ophion once again. He Set Bottomless Trap Hole. Yassine tried to use Abyss-sphere, and Jao Chained Mystical Space Typhoon from his hand to destroy it.

Yassine Normal Summoned Diva. He brought out Heavy Infantry with its effect. With his extra Summon he played Marksman, then Tributed it for Abyssmegalo’s effect. Marksman destroyed Bottomless Trap Hole with its effect. Next, he stacked Diva and Heavy Infantry for Gachi Gachi Gantetsu! Abyssmegalo attacked twice, powering over Ophion!

Jao drew Torrential Tribute and Set it, but Yassine didn’t Summon anything to Set it off. Abyssmegalo attacked to even the score!

We’re going to a third Duel! For one of these Duelists, this will be their last Duel in the tournament.

Duel 3

Jao’s opening hand consisted of 2 Mystical Space Typhoons, Dimensional Fissure, Mandragora, and 2 Rescue Rabbits. He played Dimensional Fissure, then a Rabbit. He banished it for 2 copies of Evilswarm Heliotrope, and Xyz Summoned Evilswarm Ophion. He Set a Mystical Space Typhoon to finish.

Yassine destroyed Jao’s Typhoon with his own. Then, he Normal Summoned Diva to bring Airorca to the field! He banished Marksman from his hand to destroy Ophion, and Airorca banished itself. Yassine Set a back row card, then attacked with Diva.

Jao drew another Dimensional Fissure. He Special Summoned Mandragora, then Normal Summoned Rescue Rabbit. He stacked them both for Number 39: Utopia! Utopia destroyed Diva in battle. Jao activated his second Dimensional Fissure and Set Mystical Space Typhoon, losing Typhoon to Yassine’s Dust Tornado.

Airorca returned to play, and Yassine banished Abysslinde to destroy Utopia. He played Dragoons and attacked directly.

Jao drew Castor and passed.

Airorca returned again, and Yassine added Abysspike to his field. Airorca, Abysspike, and Dragoons left Jao with 1200 Life Points. Yassine Xyz Summoned Bahamut Shark, detached Dragoons to Special Summon Mermail Abysstrite, and added Diva to his hand. Airorca banished Penguin Soldier to destroy one of the Dimensional Fissures.

Jao drew Compulsory Evacuation Device. He could only Set it and Castor.

Once again Airorca returned to the field. Yassine banished Abyssmegalo to destroy the last Dimensional Fissure. He used Bahamut Shark to Special Summon Number 17: Leviathan Dragon, turned Bahamut to defense position, then turned Abysstrite to attack position. Leviathan Dragon destroyed Castor, and Abysstrite was sent back to the Extra Deck by Compulsory Evacuation Device.

Jao drew his last possible salvation: Bottomless Trap Hole. He Set it as a bluff, but Yassine was unphased by it! He attacked with everything to take it all!